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A while back, Florence Donovan-Gunderson dropped by Scott Shehadi's business with a gift -- two hats she knitted to keep his sons warm during the Tahoe winter.

She did it, Shehadi said, not because he asked her, but because she thought it would be a neat thing to do.

"It was just a grandma thing to do. That's her," Shehadi said.

Late Tuesday while coaching on the football field, Shehadi received a text message from a friend informing him Donovan-Gunderson, 67, had been gunned down in a Carson City restaurant -- one of four killed by a gunman. Her husband, Wally, was wounded.

On Wednesday, Shehadi, other friends and family were coping with the loss of a woman described as outgoing, compassionate and giving.

"It's a tragic loss. All they were doing is getting some pancakes, for crying out loud," Shehadi said.

A middle school teacher and longtime family friend, Suzy Krzaczek suspects the South Lake Tahoe couple was in Carson having breakfast before a shopping trip. It was something they liked to do together, Krzaczek said.

Krzaczek's mother was in the hospital with Wally Gunderson on Wednesday. The retired Marine had been through surgery and is expected to recover but is "obviously devastated" by the loss of his wife, Krzaczek said.

"Her and Wally were deeply in love," she said.

"Florrie," as she liked to be called, was a very special lady, Krzaczek said.

"She was incredibly vivacious. She was on the move all the time. She loved life," Krzaczek said.

She liked to knit and loved to cook. Donovan-Gunderson was active in the Republican Party and was always ready to help anyone in need.

"She was just a giving lady," Shehadi said. "If somebody needed something she was there for them. She would do anything for anybody in need."

Krzaczek said she's still trying to come to terms with a tragedy that has her and many others in shock.

"It's a loss for our whole community and for everyone who knew her," Krzaczek said. "She had a lot of life left to live."